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Permits

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Permits Required

Any owner or owner's authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the Yolo County Building Standards Code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.

Residential Code

Scope

CRC101.2 defines the scope of the Residential Code to cover detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures not more than three stories above grade plane in height. Additional structures within the scope of the Residential Code are listed in CRC 105.1. All other buildings are regulated by the California Building Code.

Local Amendment

Residential dwellings are subject to the local amendment found in YCC 7-1.05 for Notification Devices requiring a flashing fire fighter notification device visible from the street.

Building Code

Scope 

The provisions of the Building Code apply to the construction, alteration, relocation, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures.

Exception: Detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress, and their accessory structures not more than three stories above grade plane in height, shall comply with this code or the California Residential Code.

Disabled Access 

Any Place of Public Accommodation and/or Commercial Facilities, as defined in CBC Chapter 2, are required to meet the accessibility requirements in CBC Chapter 11B. This includes most nonresidential structures.

Work Exempt from Permit

  • Residential Code exemptions are listed in CRC 105.2
  • Building Code exemptions are listed in CBC 105.2 and the amendment in YCC 7-1.04 for Permit Exempt Agricultural Structures
  • Electrical Code exemptions are listed in  CEC 89.101.3.3
  • Mechanical Code exemptions are listed in CMC 104.2
  • Plumbing Code exemptions are listed in CPC 104.2

Grading 

Grading shall not be performed without first having obtained a permit therefor from the building official. A grading permit does not include the construction of retaining walls or other structures. Exemptions from the requirement for a Grading Permit are listed in CBC J103.2

Pool Permits 

A permit is required for any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 18 inches (457 mm) deep. Swimming pool includes in-ground and above-ground structures and includes, but is not limited to, hot tubs, spas, portable spas and nonportable wading pools.

Flood Hazard Development

Within Flood Zones A, AE, or AO, a Flood Hazard Development Permit is required for any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations, or storage of equipment or materials. The following activities do not require a flood hazard development permit: plowing, seeding, cultivating, harvesting, field leveling outside defined watercourses, contouring, and planting, as well as routine maintenance of irrigation ditches.

Fire Code

Operational Permits are required as set forth in CFC 105.5

Construction Permits are required as set forth in CFC 105.6

The following fire districts administer their own Fire Permits:

  • Davis
  • East Davis
  • Springlake
  • West Sacramento
  • Winters
  • Woodland

All other districts in Yolo County require Fire Permit applications to be submitted to the Yolo County Department of Community Services.

Fees

Most Building Division Fees are collected as two separate transactions. The first transaction is for Application Fees to cover the cost of plan review for project approval. Once a permit application is approved, the second transaction is for Permit Fees to cover the cost of inspection activities. For very small projects, such as a water heater replacement, all fees will be collected in a single transaction.

A complete list of all Building and Planning Division Fees is in the Yolo County Master Fee Schedule pages 33 to 44. Cannabis, Environmental Health, Public Works, and Integrated Waste Management also charge fees listed on pages 15 to 52.

Valuation-Based Fees

Most Plan Review and Inspection Fees are based on project valuation of the work covered by the permit. Fee studies are performed periodically to verify the time allotted to each type of work is similar to the actual workload on those projects, and the valuation-based fee table will be updated to adapt to any changes since the last fee study.

Flat Fees

For common work types there is a specific fee based on the typical staff time associated with that type of permit.

Hourly Fees

Hourly fees for staff time are charged for work that is not covered by the valuation-based or flat rate fees.

Other Fees

Other fees commonly associated with a Building Permit include the following: